Highway Patrol Report Released In Fatal Princeton Accident

The Highway Patrol has confirmed a Princeton School student killed in a traffic accident last week was behind the wheel of the SUV. James Stuart Cooke, 20, of Kenly died after failing to stop for a stop sign and was hit by a pickup truck traveling westbound on US70 in Princeton . Cooke and a passenger, Jeremy Pennell, 17, of Brogden Road , Smithfield , were on their way to pick up tuxedos for their prom. Pennell, who was ejected as the SUV overturned several times, was airlifted to Duke Medical Center . Cooke was trapped in the wreckage and died a short time later at Pitt Memorial. Trooper D.W. Green’s accident report indicated inattention and disregarding a stop sign were the main factors in the collision. The report also indicated both teens were not wearing seat belts, and their SUV was traveling at 55mph at the time of the collision. The driver of the pickup truck, Patrick Dale Rawls, 42, of Powhatan Road , Clayton was treated for minor injuries. Photo by Carter Rabil